Timekeeper



March 2, 1943. s. v. G. cusm TIME KEEPER Filed Jan. 17, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l D xd I im m-or v U. @us vn 129 mm Bree, QM?

March s. v. G. cusm 2,312,391

TIME KEEPER Filed Jan. 1'7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Patented Mar. 2, 1943 TIMEKEEPER Gaston Victor Georges Cusin, Paris, France, assignor to Cartier, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 17, 1940, Serial No. 314,316 In France June 17, 1939 21 Claims.

The present invention relates to time keepers, such as clocks, watches, wrist-watches, and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind the clockwork of which is invisible.

In the case of a clock, according to the invention, the whole of the vertical shafts and of the pieces for transmitting the movement to the hands (if the clockwork mechanism is housed in the base of the clock), or the whole of the mechanism itself (which is then vertically arranged) is fitted inside a glass body or a body of an analogous transparent material, the vertical walls of the housing of said clockwork being so disposed as to ensure a total reflection of the visual rays from a person located in front of the clock or substantially so.

This body will be provided, in its front part, with a vertical slot of very small size for the passage of the spindle carrying the hands of the clock, and this front face will constitute the dial of the clock. With such an arrangement, the clockwork is wholly invisible and the clock has a mysterious character.

According to an embodiment of the invention, parallel vertical mirrors, or metallic surfaces are provided in the housing of the clockwork in order to reflect the visual rays having a certain inclination, that is to say corresponding to a person located on the side of the clock. For instance, the mechanism may be enclosed in a metallic casing of hexagonal section.

The body may be constituted by juxtaposition of two or four elements or prisms of glass providing, as well at the front as at the rear, between the total reflection faces, a very thin slot, the elements being secured together by means of a small bar or stirrup which simultaneously hides the slots.

In the case of a watch, the movement will be wholly disposed between two narrow support plates, including the mainspring, the system of total reflection prisms being made of blocks in the form of substantially semi-circular sectors or the like, in such manner as to form, once they are assembled together, a perfect circle. The whole is kept rigidly assembled by means of a fixation ring. The winding up and the resetting to the correct time can be effected either by means of a winding up knob or by means of keys inserted for this purpose in the face opposed to the dial.

In the case of a wrist watch, the clockwork will be as above described but it is no longer necessary to make use of four total reflection prisms, since the opposed face of the system, with respect to the dial, is in contact with the skin. The whole of the two prisms and of the clockwork may be fitted in a box of glass or another transparent material' and be maintained therein by means of two lugs serving also as a means for the fixation of the wrist band through which the watch is held.

Other features of the present invention will result from the following detailed description of some specific embodiments thereof.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clock made according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a profile view corresponding to Fig. 1, with the glass body removed, showing the clockwork mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a partial front view of the device of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the clock, the external casing or box being supposed to be removed;

Fig. 5 is a vertical and transverse section of the clock on the line VV of Fig. 4, the external casing being in position;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the clock on the line VI--VI of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the path followed by the visual rays through the prisms of the device;

Fig. 8 is a front view, showing another embodiment of the clockwork mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a profile view of the clockwork shown by Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a front view of a mysterious watch made according to the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a back view corresponding to Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view on an enlarged scale on the line XII-XII of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a front view of a wrist watch according to the invention;

Fig. 14 is a side view of the wrist watch according to Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a back view of the wrist watch of Figs. 13 and 14;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line XVIXVI of Fig. 13.

In the embodiment shown by Figs. 1 to 6, the clock includes a base I constituted (Fig. 2) by two plates 23, between which is housed the clock knob l4, located on the under side of the lowerplate 3.

As shown by Fig. 3, the space occupied by the part of the mechanism which projects from the base, as seen from the front, is reducedto a minimum. This part of the mechanism is then housed in the free space left by the juxtaposition of four .prisms I5, I6, [1,18, theinclined faces of which,

such as l5a, I6a, are. of the total reflection arrangement. Theseprisms are located as shown by Figs. 4, .5 and 6 above the base of the clock.

These prisms 15, 16,11 and! arerigid with the base, on the one hand throughthe medium of a .stirrup-shaped'bar I9 screwed onplate 2 and on the other hand through a casing which surrounds the whole of the prisms and the base and can befixed to theside of-the base through small screws.

Ahead of the body formed by the prisms there is provided a protection glass '2l'(Fig. 5). The

dial.2-2 of the clockis, for instance, welded or riveted to bar I 9.at points P andPi. Said bar is finely polished so. astoincrease theffeeling of pontinuity.

Furthermore, vI canprovide, in the housing of the glass body, either mirrors or a polished casing 23, preferably of octagonal section, intended to hidethe part of the mechanism which is located above plate 2, as shown by Fig. 6.

Under these conditions,'and as shown by Fig. 7, it is clear that the extreme visual rays (1, a1, which areperpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to theglass body, extend therethrough, while-the rays suchas I) close to the center of the -clockare reflected by'faces 16a, 15a, as indicated at In. As for the very inclined rays, such as 0, they are reflectedon the mirror or the parallel faces 23a of the casing which surround the clockwork or portions of said clockwork, as shown by arrow 01. In any case, the mechanism is wholly invisible, whatever be the direction from which the dial of the clock-is looked at.

The samereasoning applies to the visual rays directed in the opposite direction. In other words, the same curious effect is obtained when the clock is seen from theback as when it-'is.seen from the front.

In theembodiment shown by Figs. Band 9; only mainspr'ing'24'is housed'in the base of the clock, between plates 2 and 3. The remainder of the clockwork is arrangedwithin av volume vof.elongated shape in the vertical direction, between two narrow plates or uprights Ha, Ma.

The winding up is effected by means of key I la, which is engaged into theslot formed by the small space existing between prisms-or elements l1 and'lB.

In the embodiment shown by Figs. 10 to 12 inelusive, the watch according to theinvention includes a clockwork 25 whichisenclosedinside a .metallic casing 26 which will preferably be finely placed the dial 29a which serves to preserve space 291) in which hands 3| and 32 are housed. On both of the faces of the watch, two glass plates are provided, one 33 for protecting the hands, the other 34 for avoiding the penetration of dust or foreign bodies into the space left between prisms 29 and 3%. Once the assembly has been effected, I place, on the periphery thereof, a holding ring 35 which is maintained by element 36.

The winding up and resetting to correct time are'eifected by means of suitable keys, engaging into holes 31, 38 of the back part of the watch according to theinvention.

The watch, same as the clock above described, gives the same curious effect on one face as on the other.

In the case of a wrist watch (Figs. 13 to 16),

there isa clockwork mechanism 39 the casing 40 of which isprovided with two extensions 4| and 42 hinged at Ma and 42a and'adapted to be tightly maintained by any suitable means such as,'for instance, a screw in the position shown by Fig. '14. These extensions or lugs serve to the fixation of the wrist band'43. About casing-40 are fltted'two glass or crystal blocks 44 and 45, substantially semi-circular shaped, the faces 66 and 41 .of which are inclined in such manner as to form total reflection prisms. On the casing 40 are welded two substantially semi-circular elements, 58 and 49, the lower parts of which form two flanges 48a and 4911, the flange 48a maintaining thetwo plates 44 and in'position. Afterhaving placed the hands 50 and5| and the'dial 52 in position, the whole is surrounded by a glasspr crystal b'ox53, which comes into engagement with flange 49a. Then the two extensions or lugs .4! and 42 are folded down and fixed throughany suitable means, for instance a-screw.

'The'winding up and setting'to correct time take place as in the'case of the watchabove described. On the side of the structure turned toward the wrist, two holes 5 and '55 are provided for the introduction of suitable keys.

The watch which has ,just been described is mysterious only for'an observer looking at the time on the 'dial. As a matter of fact, itis unnecessaryjto have the mystery effect on both sides, since the rear face of the watch is normally in contact with the wrist.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to bepractical and eflicient embodiments of the present invention it should be well understood thatI do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition andform of the-parts without departing from-the scribed, which comprises, in combination, an

annular dial, two time marking hands adaptedto cooperate with said dial, a clockwork for'actuating said hands, and-at least two blocks of transparent material substantially surrounding at least the part of said clockwork which is connected with said hands, at least one of the faces of said blocks which are adjacent to said part'of the clockwork being arranged to produce total reflection of the central visual rays substantially perpendicular to the dial of said time indicating device.

2. A time indicating device of the type 'described, which comprises, in combination; "an annular dial; two time marking hands adapted to cooperate with said dial, a clockwork for actuating said hands, and a system of blocks of transparent material assembled to form a housing for at least a part of said clockwork directly connected with said hands, the faces of said blocks that form the sides of said housing being arranged to produce total reflection of the visual rays from the front and the rear of said device.

3. A clock of the type described, which comprises, in combination, a base, an annular dial located above said base, transmission shafts extending upwardly from said base to said dial, two time marking means adapted to cooperate with said dial and operatively connected with said transmission shafts, a clockwork for operating said transmission shafts housed in said base, and a system of blocks of transparent material assembled to form a housing for said transmission shafts, the faces of said blocks that form the sides of said housing being adapted to produce total reflection of the visual rays from the front and the rear of said device.

4. A clock of the type described, which comprises, in combination, a base, an annular dial carried by said base above it, two time marking hands adapted to cooperate with said dial, a clockwork for operating said hands including a mainspring located in said base and a mechanism of elongated outer shape extending upwardly above said base, and a system of blocks of transparent material assembled together to form a housing for said mechanism, the faces of said blocks that form the walls of said housing being adapted to produce total reflection of the visual rays from the front and the rear of said clock.

5. A clock of the type described, which comprises, in combination, a base, an annular dial carried by said base above it, two time marking hands adapted to cooperate with said dial, a clockwork for operating said hands, including a barrel located in said base and a mechanism at least one part of which, of elongated outer shape extends vertically above said base, and a system of blocks of transparent material carried by said base, assembled together to form a housing for said elongated part of the clockwork mechanism, this system consisting of four blocks of trapezoidal horizontal section, said system having inner inclined faces on said blocks adapted to produce total reflection of the visual rays from the front and the rear of the clock.

6. A clock according to claim further including two parallel mirrors parallel to the front face of the system of blocks.

'7. A clock according to claim 5 further including a metallic casing surrounding said clockwork mechanism inside said blocks, said casing having at least two parallel reflecting faces perpendicular to the front face of the system of blocks.

8. A clock according to claim 5 further including a metallic reflecting casing surrounding said clockwork mechanism inside said blocks, said casing being of octagonal horizontal section with two opposed sides perpendicular to the front face of the system of blocks.

9. A clock of the type described, which comprises, in combination, a base, an annular dial carried by said base above it, two time marking hands adapted to cooperate with said dial, a clockwork for operating said hands, said clockwork including a barrel located in said base and a mechanism at least one part of which, of elongated outer shape, extends vertically above said base, a system of blocks of transparent material carried by said base, assembled together to form a housing for said elongated part of the clockwork mechanism, this system consisting of four blocks of trapezoidal horizontal section, said system having inner inclined faces on said blocks adapted to produce, total reflection of the visual rays from the front and the rear of said clock, and an external casing surrounding said four blocks.

10. A clock of the type described, which comprises, in combination, a base, an annular dial carried by said base above it, two time marking hands adapted to cooperate with said dial, spindles for transmitting movement to said hands, a clockwork for operating said hands, said clockwork including a barrel located in said base and a mechanism at least one part of which, of elongated outer shape, extends vertically above said base, and a system of blocks of transparent material carried by said base, assembled together to form a housing for said elongated part of the clockwork mechanism, this system consisting of four blocks of trapezoidal horizontal section, said system having inner inclined surfaces on said blocks adapted to produce total reflection of the visual rays from the front and the rear of said clock, the front transparent blocks being mounted with a slight space between them forming a vertical slot for the passage of the spindles of said hands.

11. A clock according to claim 10, further including a small bar hiding said vertical slot.

12. A watch of the type described, which comprises, in combination, two hands for indicating the time, a spindle for said hands, a clockwork for actuating said spindle and said hands, four blocks surrounding said clockwork, said four blocks being of transparent material and with bevelled edges so as to accommodate said clockwork, said edges being inclined to produce total reflection of the visual rays from the front and the rear of said watch. and a dial associated with said blocks and adapted to cooperate with said hands.

13. A watch of the type described, which comprises, in combination, two hands for indicating the time, spindles for said hands, a clockwork for actuating said spindles, four transparent blocks surrounding said clockwork, of substantially semi-circular shape and superposed two by.

two, said blocks having bevelled edges so as to accommodate said clockwork, said bevelled edges being adapted to produce total reflection of the visual rays from the front and the rear of said watch, and a dial carried by said blocks and adapted to cooperate with said hands.

14. A watch of the type described, which comprises, in combination, two hands for indicating the time, spindles for said hands, a clockwork for actuating said spindles, a casing for said clockwork having finely polished outer walls, four transparent blocks surrounding said clockwork and of substantially semi-circular shape and superposed two by two, said blocks having bevelled edges so as to accommodate said clockwork and to produce total reflection of the visual rays from the front and the rear of said clockwork, and a dial carried by said blocks and adapted to cooperate with said hands.

15. A watch of the type described, which comprises, in combination, two hands for indicating the time, spindles for said hands, a clockwork for actuating said spindles, a casnig for said clockwork having finely polished external walls, four transparent blocks surrounding said clockwork, of substantially semi-circular shape and super- :posed two by two,-said blockslhaving inner bev- -ellediedges to accommodate said clockwork and =-tem-of four transparent blocks surrounding said clockwork, of substantially semi-circular shape and superposed two by two, said blocks having inner bevelled edges to accommodate saidclockwork-and to produce total reflection of the visual .rays from the front and from the rear of said clockwork, a dial carried by said blocks and adapted tocooperate with said handaan annular holding element surrounding the whole of said blocks, and two protection glass plates on either side of saidsystem of transparent blocks, respectively.

17. A watch of the type described, which comprises, in combination, two hands for indicating the time, spindles forvsaid hands, a clockwork for actuating said spindles, a casing for said clockwork, two transparent substantially semi-circular shaped plates surrounding said clockwork, said plates having partially bevelled inclined edges to accommodate said clockwork and to produce total reflection of the light rays from-the frontofsaid watch, and means forminga wrist-bandcarrying said watch.

18.- A Watch of the type described, which comprises, in combination, two hands for'indicating the time, spindles for said hands, aclockwork for driving said spindles, a casing for said clockwork having finely polished external walls, two transparent substantially semi-circular shaped plates surrounding said clockwork, said plates having partially bevelled inner edges to accommodate said clockwork and to producetotal reflection-of the light rays from the front and the rear of said clockwork, means for holding said transparent plates together, and a wristband fixed to said last mentioned means.

19. A watch according to claim 18 further including a glass or crystal casing for protecting said dial.

20. A watch according toclaim 18 in which-the means for holding said plates together are hingedly connected to said clockwork casing.

21. A time indicating device comprisinga substantially transparent face, time marking hands adapted to cooperate with said face, a clockwork for actuating said hands, and a body of substantially transparent material surrounding said hands, said body having means to produce total reflection of visual rays when the device is viewed from the front.

GASTON VICTOR GEORGES CUSIN. 

